The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-12-10

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you mad ?" l cried Indignantly; ado you
really suppose l shall consent to 90 down
to posterity in such position as this ?"
heard click, and, to my unspeakable
horror, saw that he was deliberately cover.
ing me from behind the camera with re.
volver-that was what l had seen bulging
inside his pocket
Il should be sorry to STAY any sitter in
cold Blood he said, "but l must tell you
solemnly, that unless you instantly resume
your original pose-which was charming
you are dead mani
Not till then did realize the awful truth
Il was locked up alone, at the top of a
house, in quiet neighborhood, with mad
photographer Summoning to my aid all
my presence of mind, l resumed the original
pose for the space of As hours-they were
seconds really, but they seemed hours; it
was not needful for him to exhort me to be
limp again-I was limper than the dampest
towel
"Thank you very much he said gravely
as he covered the lens; II think that will
come out very well indeed. You may move
now
| rose, putting, but perfectly collected.
"Ha-ha," laughed in sickly manner, (for
felt sick, s'--I perceive, Sir, that you
are humorist."
"Since | bave abandoned poetry" he
said as he carefully removed the negative
to dark place, ~ have developed con-
siderable sense of quiet humor. You will
find a large Gainsborough hat in that cor
ner-might / trouble you to put it on for
the next sitting?"
'Never T. l cried, thoroughly revolted.
"Surely; with your rare artistic perception,
you must be aware that such headdress
as that (which is no longer worn even by
females) is out of all keeping with my
physiognomy. will not sit for my photo
graph in such a preposterous thing!
II shall count ten very slowly" he re-
piled, pensively, sand if by the time | have
i finished you are not seated on the back Of
that chair, your feet crossed so as to over
lap, your right thumb in the corner of your
mouth, pleasant smile on your counte-
nance, and the Gainsborough hat on your
head, you will need no more hats on this
sorrowful earth. One-two"
l was perched on that chair in the pre-
scribed attitude long before he had got to
seven How can describe what it cost
me to smile as l sat there under the dry,
blue light, the perspiration rolling in beads
down my cheeks, exposed to the cleaning
muzzle of the revolver and the steady Cor
gon glare of that internal camera?
"That will be extremely popular" he
said, lowering the weapon as he concluded.
"Your smile, perhaps, was little too
broad, but the pose was very fresh and un-
studied"
l have always read of the controlling
power of the human eye upon wild beasts
and dangerous maniacs, and fixed mine
firmly upon him now as said sternly, "Let
me out at once-I wish to 60"
Perhaps did not fix them quite long
enough; perhaps the power of the human
eye has been exaggerated; only know
that for all the effect mine had on him they
might have been oysters.
"Not yet" he said, persuasively, mot
Ehen we're getting on so nicely. may
able conuhle to take you under such favor
That, thougrain. :"
answer for; but who, alas c5ihidsay wnetnei
| should ever leave that studio alive2 For
all knew he minght spend the whole day
in photographing me, and then, with mad
mans caprice, shoot me as soon as it became
too dark to go on any longer The proper
course to take, knew, was to humor him,
to keep him in good temper, fool him to
the top of his bent-it was my only chance.
"Well," I said, perhaps you're right. l
Pm in no great hurry. Were you think
ing of taking me in some different style Z
l am quite at your disposition.
He brought out small but stout prop
erty mast, and arranged it against canvas
background of coast scenery. Il generally
use it for children in sailor costume" he
said, sbut think it will bear your weight
long enough for the purpose"
/ wiped my brow. "You are not going
to ask me to climb that thing?" faltered.
aWell," he suggested, off you will just
arrange yourself upon the cross-trecs in a
negligent attitude, upside down, with your
TONGUE protruded as if for medical inspec-
ton, l shall be perfectly satisfied, :"
| tried argument. II should have no
objection in the world" 1 said; sits an ex-
ceilent idea-only, do sailors ever climb
masts in that way? Wouldn't it be better
to have the thing correct while we're about
it?" :,
II was not aware that you were sailor,
he said; care you?"
l was afraid to say l was, because ap-
pretended that if l did it might occur to
him to put me through some still more
frightful performance.
"Come, he said, "you won't compel me
to shed blood so early in the afternoon, will
you? Up with you"
l got up, but, as | hung there, tried
to obtain modification of some of the de
tails. IL don't think, l said aFtfully, "tha
I'll put out my tongue-it's rather over
done, eh2 Everybody is taken with his
tongue out nowadays"
ut is true" he said, "but lam not wei
enough known in the profession yet to de
part entirely from the conventional. You
tongue out as far as it will go, please"
Il shall have a rush of blood to the head
I know ! shall, protested.
aLook here" he said, Gam | taking thii
photograph, or are you2"
There was no possible doubt, unfortu
nately, as to who was taking the photo
graph. made one last remonstrance. e
put it to you as a sensible man." | began
but it is a waste Of time to put anything t
raving lunatic as sensible man. 1t
enough to say that he carried his point.
Il wish you could see the negative + b
said as he came back from his laboratory
.sYou we're little red in the face, but
will come out black, so it's all right. Tha
carte will be quite a novelty, | Aatter my
SELF"
l groaned. However, this was the eEC
/ would get away now at all hazards, an
tell the police that there was dangerou
maniac at large. Igot down from the mas
with affected briskness. aWell," I sail
, II mustn't take advantage of your goo
nature any longer. I'm exceedingly oblige
o.. x,o,, for tha--fha Mains Won have takeI